Statement by NOW President Terry O’Neill on the Shootings in Colorado Springs, CO

November 28, 2015

Washington, DC – NOW extends our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed, and our wishes for the healing and well-being of those wounded in the assault on the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

Let’s be clear: this was an act of domestic terrorism. NOW calls for a full federal investigation into the shooter and any others who may be connected with his act. Terrorists do not act alone. Everyone implicated in this vicious crime — not just the gunman — must be rooted out and held accountable for their acts.

Since last summer, phony videos have circulated, falsely accusing Planned Parenthood of illegal actions. Those videos crossed the line of decency, humanity and legality. But instead of renouncing them, extremist members of Congress, their staffers, operatives and even a Supreme Court justice’s wife relentlessly promoted the videos to whip up a frenzy of hate against women’s health providers.

And now we have a fanatic with a gun rampaging in a Planned Parenthood clinic, killing three people and wounding many others.

We must call this what it is — domestic terrorism — and prosecute it as such. And we must reject the use of deception and hate to further a political ideological agenda.

NOW is proud to #StandWithPlannedParenthood, whose courageous staff provide excellent health care and make women’s lives better every day.